John Bowery
A Fixture
Finally finished
The Black Swan Back Story
Records dating to 1789 posted on the web. The pub sits on the line between North Creake and South Creake and divides the pub in two. It was a known Pirate hang out and had a tunnel going out to the sea at Brancaster. In the UK there is a saying for Credit, “Put it on the Slate” The Black Swan is in the Norfolk history books as the origin of that saying. In one of the rooms was a large piece of Slate on the wall behind the double doors and that is where they wrote what the customer owed and daily specials, hence “put it on the slate”
In the Middle Ages, ale would have been brewed on the premises from which it was sold. Alewives would put out an ale-wand to show when their beer was ready.
Maureen (my wife) lived in the pub, nicknamed locally “the Mucky duck”, with her parents from 1940 to 1953.
During the War on one side of the pub was the Land army girls who took care of the farmland. On the same side was an RAF base (Raynham) and on the opposite side of the pub was an American Air Base (Sculthorpe). All three came to the pub for recreation? Maureen and her two sisters bedrooms were upstairs in the back. Pretty soon everyone would go out back to the Bowling green and a large fight would begin over the land army girls until the MP's carted them all off. The girls would watch out of their bedroom windows. They would then get up real early the following morning and run out back and pick up all of the money that had fallen out of the guys pockets. That was there pocket money for the war years?????
Her fathers name is Frederick King and is listed last but one on the list of caretakers of the pub. Pub closed 1965 and is now a private residence. See photo with plaque below from 2016
There are three rats hidden on the premises. The Bar girl is converted from a “scale 75” figure and adapted to the scene. (Ale Wife?)
Taken 2016
The Black Swan Back Story
Records dating to 1789 posted on the web. The pub sits on the line between North Creake and South Creake and divides the pub in two. It was a known Pirate hang out and had a tunnel going out to the sea at Brancaster. In the UK there is a saying for Credit, “Put it on the Slate” The Black Swan is in the Norfolk history books as the origin of that saying. In one of the rooms was a large piece of Slate on the wall behind the double doors and that is where they wrote what the customer owed and daily specials, hence “put it on the slate”
In the Middle Ages, ale would have been brewed on the premises from which it was sold. Alewives would put out an ale-wand to show when their beer was ready.
Maureen (my wife) lived in the pub, nicknamed locally “the Mucky duck”, with her parents from 1940 to 1953.
During the War on one side of the pub was the Land army girls who took care of the farmland. On the same side was an RAF base (Raynham) and on the opposite side of the pub was an American Air Base (Sculthorpe). All three came to the pub for recreation? Maureen and her two sisters bedrooms were upstairs in the back. Pretty soon everyone would go out back to the Bowling green and a large fight would begin over the land army girls until the MP's carted them all off. The girls would watch out of their bedroom windows. They would then get up real early the following morning and run out back and pick up all of the money that had fallen out of the guys pockets. That was there pocket money for the war years?????
Her fathers name is Frederick King and is listed last but one on the list of caretakers of the pub. Pub closed 1965 and is now a private residence. See photo with plaque below from 2016
There are three rats hidden on the premises. The Bar girl is converted from a “scale 75” figure and adapted to the scene. (Ale Wife?)
Taken 2016
I think the final result turned out OK and is now a part of our family history.
All comments are welcome and encouraged. I have and extra lamp and wonder if that would be better than the frying pan over the bar by the girl.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
John
